Question

When you are given three side lengths for a triangle, how do you know which length to substitute for a, b, or c in the Pythagorean Theorem?

Answer 1

When Sum of square of two Sides is equal to square of third side of triangle.

Explanation:

Given:

Three side length of triangle are given we need find the which value to substitute for a, b, c in Pythagoras theorem.

First we will find the squares of all length, then we will check which two square of side are equal to square of third side as per Pythagoras theorem.

Hence the two side would according be a and b and third side will become c.

For example if length of triangle is given as 6 cm, 8 cm and 10 cm.

We will first take square of all

`6^2=36\\8^2=64\\10^2=100`

Now we can see that

`36+64=100\\6^2+8^2=10^2`

Now by Pythagoras theorem.

`a^2+b^2=c^2`

Hence we can say a = 6 cm, b = 8 cm, c= 10 cm